Chapter 84 The Blacksmith Passes Down His Craft, the Fox Moves Forward
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After parting with Ethelena and the others on their way to the dungeon, I started heading home. But partway through, I remembered something else I had to take care of, so I turned toward the commercial district.
The shop I entered was the same one where I’d bought casual clothes for Yohira and the others before. Today, I was looking for a tracksuit—something that would fit Hinagiku. I found one in a free size and took it to the counter.
”…Ah, aren’t you Mr. Julon!?”
”Eh—oh, yes. I’m Julon.”
”Perfect timing!”
The shopkeeper’s face lit up with recognition.
Without another word, he went into the back, leaving me waiting at the counter. A moment later, he returned carrying a large cardboard box that looked heavy even for him.
”Here’s the maid uniform you ordered. Please take a look.”
”Oh—right!”
I had completely forgotten about that order. I’d asked for maid outfits as uniforms for the shop, hadn’t I?
I opened the box and began examining each piece with Appraisal. Every uniform had small differences in design—some had holes for tails, others had slits for wings. They were well thought out.
And then, among them, one outfit stood out—a glossy, revealing design clearly meant for nighttime use.
Ethelena’s, no doubt. The image that crossed my mind was enough to make me quickly shake it away.
”For the shop uniforms, there are five pieces, plus one night outfit—six in total. The uniforms are thirty thousand each, and the night one is fifty thousand. That comes to two hundred thousand in total.”
”When you think of it as workwear, that’s actually not bad.”
A quick look through Appraisal told me the materials were good and the sewing skill was high.
These would last a long time—definitely a good purchase. I took out two hundred thousand in cash from my inventory and handed it over.
”Here’s two hundred thousand upfront.”
”Thank you very much!”
”Now, I’d also like you to take a look at this tracksuit.”
”Hmm? And this is?”
He took the red-and-white suit from me, looking a bit puzzled. I briefly explained that it was for Hinagiku’s training, and he nodded in understanding.
”In that case, please give me about ten minutes. I’ll reinforce it a bit and add a slit on the back for wings.”
”Eh? Are you sure?”
”Yes, but I’ll have to charge a little extra, of course.”
A sharp one—but it also showed confidence in his craft. As a fellow artisan, I could respect that.
When he handed it back, the tracksuit looked entirely different. The elbows and knees were reinforced like protective gear, while the shoulders, underarms, and hips were restructured for easier movement.
There was even mesh along the sides for ventilation. Honestly, it looked more like a newly crafted piece than a quick fix.
”How is it? Pretty good, right?”
”It’s excellent.”
Judging from the work, I’d say it was worth about twenty-five thousand. Considering it only took him ten minutes, I should probably add an express fee on top.
”So, the original price of the tracksuit is five thousand, and—”
”With the express fee, how about twenty-five thousand total?”
”One ten—wait, what?”
”Eh?”
I blinked.
Did I hear that right? Was he planning to sell it for just ten thousand?
That wouldn’t do—I had to pay the proper price.
”This is basically a whole new piece now. Including the technical fee, let’s say twenty thousand, plus five thousand for express service. That’s twenty-five thousand total, alright?”
”That’s too much! I can’t take that!”
Maybe it scared him to see the price jump to five times the original. I guess it did sound high when you said it like that.
”But look at the added protection at the elbows and knees, the improved shoulder and hip flexibility, the mesh ventilation, and the zipper-button combo. Honestly, this could be sold as a high-end model.”
”Even so, five times the price is too much!”
”The express fee is five thousand, so really it’s only four times.”
”Oh—wait, that’s still expensive! Four times is still a lot!!”
”Still, with that level of craftsmanship, this is a fair price. It’s really well made.”
”Ha… I mean, thank you, but—are you a crafter too?”
”Yes. I run a small shop of my own. Mostly equipment, though.”
”Wow. You don’t make clothes?”
”I don’t have much of a sense for design.”
The conversation started drifting off course, so I steered it back.
”Anyway, from one craftsman to another, I can tell this tracksuit is worth every bit of that. Your skill surpasses mine here. I’ll pay twenty-five thousand.”
He stared at me for a moment, then sighed deeply.
”…Alright. I’ll accept it this time.”
”Great!”
”Why are you so happy about spending more money?”
Still looking a little exasperated, he took the cash, counted it carefully, and sighed again.
”I was planning to sell it for ten thousand, but now it’s two and a half times that…”
”If you ever put this on display, start from at least twenty thousand. Even without the wing slit, it’s worth that much.”
”How can you be so confident in pricing?”
”I base it on the merchant guild master’s official pricing options.”
”…Wait, you remember that list?”
”Of course. It wasn’t that long.”
It was only about fifty items or so. My own inventions usually need special evaluation from the city mayor, since they often create entirely new value categories.
While we talked, I put the box and the tracksuit back into my inventory. Time to head out.
”Thank you for everything.”
”Eh—ah, yes, please come again!”
She seemed a bit flustered, but still gave a polite bow as I left.
I bought some vegetables along the way, then made it home without trouble. Outside the front door, the foolish fox girl was sweeping with a broom.
”I’m home, foolish fox.”
”Welcome back, Master,” she said cheerfully.
Seeing her smile made me instinctively reach out and pat her head. There was something comforting about her presence—like being greeted by a large, loyal dog, tail wagging and all.
”Thanks for cleaning up. Anything unusual happen?”
”There were five suspicious men watching the house from afar, likely thinking of breaking in. Other than that, it was peaceful, degozaru.”
”I see.”
So that’s why she was outside. I really was relying on her a lot.
Thanks to my mother-in-law’s improvements, the barrier’s strength had increased—anyone trying to break in would need Calmys-class ability. The mithril gate alone would require Elingium-level firepower to destroy, and the shutters would take just as much.
Without brute force, the only way in was through unlocking skills, but once the lock was set from inside, even that wouldn’t work.
The key I made couldn’t be opened without Unlocking Level V, so breaking in while we were away was practically impossible. Still, I’d asked the fox to stay behind, just in case.
”By the way, where are Master and Mother-in-law?”
”I served them rice bowls made from the marinated bonito you prepared at noon, degozaru. They both looked gloomy since they couldn’t drink alcohol.”
”…Ah, I messed up.”
They’d already been craving sake this morning, and giving them something like that for lunch probably made it worse.
But the fish was too fresh to fry, so I’d gone with that. Maybe I should’ve saved it for dinner instead.
”Come to think of it, did you eat lunch, Master?”
”No. After work, some of the teachers stopped me to talk, and then I had to run a few errands with Hinagiku at the clothing store. Didn’t have time. I’m starving.”
The moment I realized it, hunger hit me hard. Was there anything to eat?
”If that’s the case, Master—would you like to try eating me, degozaru?”
She loosened the collar of her casual outfit and revealed her slender shoulder, tilting her head playfully. I sighed, stepped closer, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Her eyes widened, then closed tightly, as if bracing herself. She was serious.
I leaned closer—and flicked her forehead.
”Don’t say stupid things.”
”Kyuuun!?”
The sharp sound was followed by a startled cry. She rubbed her forehead with teary eyes, ears twitching.
”Listen, Ichika. I’ll admit—you’re beautiful, inside and out. Honestly, I’m tempted.”
”Eh… ah… kyuuun…”
”But don’t say things like that when you’re still scared of being touched by men. You’re trembling, you know?”
”…Even so, I can’t help but want to give myself to you, my master.”
Her tone softened, her voice trembling with honesty. I pulled her gently into a hug and stroked her head.
”I don’t know what’s making you rush. But while you’re in this house, relax. I told you before—dream as much as you want, until you’re tired of it.”
”…But I’m tired of dreams now, Master. I want this to be my home.”
”Then it can be. Just don’t force yourself. When you’re truly ready, I’ll accept you properly.”
”…Yes.”
She nodded once, took a deep breath, and stepped back. Her hand rested over her chest as she calmed herself, then she smiled again, her usual gentle expression returning.
”Thank you, Master, degozaru.”
I smiled back and ruffled her hair once more.
* * *
A little while later, as I sat at the table waiting for her cooking, my master called out from the other room.
”Tarabou, take care of that girl for me.”
So she had been paying attention after all, even though she’d claimed otherwise. I couldn’t help but smile wryly.
”Of course. I’ll do my best to make sure she keeps smiling.”
My master nodded, satisfied. Then something else came to mind.
”By the way, there’s something I wanted to ask.”
”Oh?”
Ever since I’d seen the katana my master forged, something about it had felt strange. A sword is a weapon—but also a sacred object.
In my previous life, there were divine blades like the Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, counted among the nation’s treasures. Some swords were even treated as charms meant to cut away evil ties.
So I began to wonder—could I forge a sword that deflects mental interference, like a protective charm, using my master’s technique?
”I was thinking—would it be possible to make something like that?”
”…Possible, maybe. But easy? Not at all,” my master replied, her words thick with accent.
In other words, it wasn’t impossible, but far from simple.
To grant a concept to an object—you first have to form that concept itself. Gods can do it because they can shape divine authority.
But humans? We can’t normally touch the roots of the world. My master had reached a near-transcendent level, yes—but even she could only prepare an empty vessel and spend decades shaping a concept within it, unsure of what it would become in the end.
Still… was that really the limit?
If concepts existed, and someone had made one before, then they could be studied, understood, and eventually replicated.
My Appraisal skill doesn’t just see things—it perceives their essence. If I encountered a weapon forged with a concept, I could theoretically read that concept itself.
”Master, forgive my boldness—but do you, by any chance, possess a conceptual weapon?”
She stared at me for a long moment, then sighed deeply. Reaching into her inventory, she drew out a katana with a plain white scabbard and handle—a shirasaya.
The moment I used Appraisal on it, my vision blurred. It was as if the blade itself had cut through my perception.
The sword rejected any interference from mana or external forces, embodying the very idea of “cutting.” It was perfection.
”Master, this is…”
”One I forged long ago. Took me years to reach that level.”
I nodded, then activated Concept Appraisal. The blade resisted even that, slicing through my perception—but I held on.
Gradually, I caught a glimpse of its essence. A sharp ache ran through my head as the sword’s memories poured in—how it had been forged, what it had endured, and the will it had inherited.
Technique.
Philosophy. Experience.
Through those, I understood—the concept it held was Severance.
Even though the process was shorter than when I examined Ethelena’s sword, the mental strain was immense. Not as bad as an Archangel’s weapon, but enough to confirm: this was indeed a divine-level conceptual armament.
”…I see. The pure concept of ‘Severance.’ Truly the ultimate form of a sword.”
”Ha! You catch on fast, Tarabou,” she said with a grin.
No, Master, that’s not the same kind of “sharpness,” I thought.
”I understand the direction now. With practice, I could probably make one.”
”You’re insane, Tarabou.”
My own master calling me crazy—yeah, fair. But if it can be made, then I’ll make it.
A concept focused on cutting could easily serve as protection too—especially against charm magic like today’s incident. Definitely worth pursuing.
”Sorry to interrupt your talk, degozaru, but lunch is ready.”
”Oh, thanks. Let’s eat.”
”Yes, please enjoy, degozaru.”
Ichika brought over the meal with a bright smile.
A steaming bowl of rice topped with simmered beef and onions in sweet soy, a bowl of cabbage miso soup, and a side dish with a raw egg. Perfect fuel for a day of blacksmithing.
The beef and vegetables were cooked in a sauce of soy, sugar, and ginger—the spice erased the smell of meat, while the sweetness of onion and carrot softened the strong soy flavor. Each bite released deep, savory richness.
Feeling the flavor grow heavy, I took a sip of miso soup.
The white miso, lightly spiced with chili, balanced sweetness and heat, bringing out the cabbage’s mild flavor. Honestly, it could stand alone as a full meal.
I tried to keep a balance between rice and beef, but the topping disappeared first. About a third of the rice remained.
I cracked the egg over it, letting the yolk mix with the sauce-soaked grains. The color deepened, and the aroma turned irresistible. I stirred it and scooped it straight into my mouth—table manners forgotten.
The egg softened the sauce’s saltiness while keeping its flavor alive. I chewed carefully, feeling the sweetness of the rice rise from beneath the sauce.
The grains, cooked firm, absorbed the liquid perfectly, turning satisfyingly sticky. Before I knew it, the bowl was empty. I put my hands together.
”Thanks for the meal. It was delicious.”
”I’m so glad you enjoyed it, degozaru!”
Her smile lit up the room. Seeing her that happy filled me with quiet warmth.
* * *
After resting my stomach for a bit, I headed into the forge. Today, Master told me I’d take the lead while she assisted.
If she was going to be my hammerman, then I could watch her technique up close.
The thought alone made my heart race.
Just like yesterday, I began by stretching the steel—but this time, I made a small change. When layering the metal, I focused on aligning every flow of steel perfectly, separating each layer by its carbon content.
Using both Concept Appraisal and Crafting to their fullest, I controlled the carbon division until the calculation showed three outer layers of iron. To make this work, I’d need to use the most complex forging method—shihō-zume, the four-way wrap. I built the entire structure in my head, including the future welding order.
During the stacking and welding, I followed the plan exactly—layering the steel, fixing it in place, and imitating my master’s technique from yesterday to align the grain.
As I continued, the core, outer, and edge steels came together more perfectly than I expected. The sight made me grin without realizing it.
Then the real training began.
As the lead smith, I swung the hammer, controlling both impact and mana. My master, serving as striker, responded precisely—sending out mana in perfect reverse phase to cancel out the residual mana I infused.
Wait, what!? She was neutralizing the mana color from the blacksmith’s energy itself, cleansing the steel into purity.
That’s insane! Yesterday, she had already aligned the steel structure by hand—but was she doing this at the same time? Just how far beyond human is she!?
She probably removed the leftover mana because the forge fire itself was generated by mana. Any remaining interference would distort the heat and cause uneven tempering.
To notice that mid-process and adjust instinctively—unbelievable. I’m really glad I became her disciple.
After the training, we moved into forging proper. The grain of each layer fit together so perfectly that it felt like a demonstration of my master’s unmatched skill.
I couldn’t afford to fall behind. If I didn’t reach her level of understanding, I’d shame her teachings. Using the hardest steel for the edge, I wrapped the core iron with the outer and spine steels, then began elongating the blade.
I struggled to replicate her reverse-phase mana control, alternating between positive and negative flows with each hammer strike.
The effort was exhausting, but failure wasn’t an option. I kept shaping the steel to the length and pattern I envisioned.
There was no room left for thought—only instinct. With each strike, I absorbed my master’s rhythm, adapted it, and made it my own.
I could feel myself evolving with every blow. Under her guidance, I was climbing toward the peak of my craft.
My awareness flickered in and out, and before I knew it, I was applying the clay mixture for tempering—the final step before quenching. Through Concept Appraisal, I saw the flow of steel—every line perfectly aligned, running deep within without a trace of distortion.
It was as flawless as Demonsteel, forged by human hands alone. The joy of creating such perfection filled me completely. I offered silent thanks—to whichever god might listen—for granting me this skill.
My master demonstrated the sharpening and tang-finishing process. Like before, she coated both blade and whetstone with mana—but this time, she made them resonate in opposite phases.
Who even thinks of something like that? Let alone pulls it off?
When the blade was finished, I couldn’t look away. It was too beautiful—so sharp, so mesmerizing it almost felt alive.
This was the craftsmanship of the katana master, Amatsu. Compared to her blade, mine from yesterday looked like a child’s toy.
”Ha-ha… amazing. My master’s skill feels so far away!”
”You look pleased, Tatara-san.”
”Of course I am! Having a goal like this—it’s the best motivation there is!”
”…You really are a blacksmith through and through.”
My mother-in-law, who had been quietly watching, let out a small laugh. I didn’t think I’d said anything strange.
”Still… incredible. I want to try every single one of those techniques myself.”
I’d start small—with a short katana.
Not just as a weapon, but to refine the concept of “severance.” In my previous life, short blades were used as charms to ward off illness. If I could embed such a concept, I could make something similar—a sword that protects its owner’s mind.
After today’s incident, I should give them to my two juniors.
My mother-in-law and the city mayor deserve one too. And for the Acting Head of the Family—I’d forge a full-length blade.
It might end up a bit heavy, but at roughly two hundred grams each, the short katanas would be manageable.
Easy to carry, perfect for self-defense. And if they hesitated to accept them, I’d just say they were proof of discipleship.
”…Tatara-san, what are you thinking?”
”I’m going to make short conceptual katanas as charms and gift them to several people.”
”I see. Have you decided who they’ll go to?”
”The two apprentices I’m training, my mother-in-law, and the city mayor.”
”My, my…”
My mind was already full of designs and forging methods.
If wishes or prayers were needed to shape a concept, then that was simple—my wish was always for their safety and well-being. My prayer was that no malice could ever reach their hearts.
”Tatara-boy, you just finished forging! Are you already starting something new!?”
”Tatara-san! Can’t you ever stop once you get an idea!? Even demons couldn’t match your energy!”
Both my master and mother-in-law tried to hold me back.
Why, though? I still had plenty of stamina left—and this creative surge was burning inside me!
Then Ichika appeared at the doorway.
”Master, it’s almost time to prepare dinner—uh… what’s going on here?”
Right, I also needed to make her ninja katana and kunai later.
But first, I had to finish the conceptual weapon. Priorities.
”Ichika! Perfect timing!”
”What exactly did I walk into, degozaru?”
”She’s trying to stop Tatara-boy before he works himself to death again!”
Please, just let me go—I needed to release this impulse somehow.
”…Understood, degozaru. Master, forgive me.”
The moment I heard her voice, her face suddenly filled my vision—eyes closed, cheeks flushed—and then her soft lips pressed against mine.
For an instant, my mind went completely blank.
”Awake now, Master?”
Ichika smiled at me, her face still red.
”Wha—You just—”
”No overworking, Master. If you collapse again, everyone will worry, degozaru.”
”No, that’s not—wait, did you just—”
”I only gave my first kiss to my master. Such a big reaction, degozaru.”
My brain refused to restart. She spoke slowly, as if explaining to a child.
”Please rest, Master. I’ll handle dinner. And if you try to sneak off to the forge again, I’ll stop you—with my body if I must.”
”Wait—what?”
”Even you would stop if you saw your disciple crying from the pain of her first night, wouldn’t you?”
”I think that would stop me for entirely different reason!”
Honestly, if it came to that, I doubted I could hold back until every last desire was spent. There was a reason Ethelena once called me the ‘Demon Lord of Lust.’
Still, how did Ichika know me this well? And why did she talk about using her body so casually?
”Just to be clear, Master—it’s only because you are who you are that I’d even consider this method, degozaru.”
”You’re reading my mind…”
”Master is easy to read, degozaru.”
Completely drained, I gave up and went to the living room as she ordered. On the way, my master and mother-in-law watched me with identical expressions—a mix of disbelief and tired amusement.
I sank into my usual spot on the sofa and let the strength drain from my body.
I wasn’t exactly tired, but my head needed a break. My eyes wandered toward the kitchen, where the foolish fox girl was moving quickly, busy with dinner.
Even though she disliked vegetables, she made sure to include plenty in every dish. Even though she loved meat, she kept it balanced and modest. She really had a nature of devotion—someone who found joy in serving others.
When she first came here, she seemed to act on impulse, pretending to be bold while keeping people at a distance. But little by little, she’d started to care for us, acting out of thoughtfulness instead of fear. Now, she helped with housework willingly and with a smile.
She once joked about wanting to be a “good wife and wise mother,” but honestly, she already had the makings of one.
And for some reason, she’d chosen to look up to me. How could I not feel happy about that?
Still, I hadn’t faced her whole story yet. She called my master “Old Man,” which meant she must’ve been under his care once.
Why did she hate being seen as talented? What happened in her past that made her so guarded? Ichika still hadn’t opened that part of herself to me.
Maybe it’s just my own selfish wish—but I still want to understand her completely.
She doesn’t want to show me that side, I can tell. But even so, I want to accept all of her.
After all, I’m her master—and she’s someone who cares for me. If I can’t face the past of someone who loves me, then what kind of man am I?
I know it’s arrogant, but I want to love her whole life, even the parts that came before me. They’re all pieces of who she is now.
”…Thinking about all that again, degozaru?”
”…Did you just narrate my thoughts out loud?”
How the hell did she guess that so accurately?
”Kyuuun. I am Master’s foolish fox, degozaru. Reading your heart is nothing, degozaru.”
”You’re fine calling yourself foolish, huh?”
”Of course. Being a foolish fox suits me just fine, degozaru.”
Yeah… there was definitely something in her past.
Probably something painful—being praised too much, maybe betrayed or worn down by people’s expectations. It had to be enough to make her lose faith in others.
I just wanted her to have days where she could lie down with her head on my lap, basking in the sun, without thinking about anything. Those moments always seemed to calm her—and honestly, they calmed me too.
In the kitchen, she hummed softly as she worked, her tail swaying from side to side in rhythm. That glossy fur looked incredibly soft.
I’d touched her hair before, but never her tail. It looked so fluffy, so inviting…
”…Master, are you really that curious about my tail, degozaru?”
Her voice caught me off guard. I looked up to see her glancing over with a slightly troubled smile.
”Well, I don’t think there’s a person alive who wouldn’t be curious about something that fluffy.”
”Your fast talking just now tells me your curiosity is genuine, degozaru…”
She sighed quietly, as if giving up on something, then went quiet for a moment. Finally, after thinking it over, she nodded and looked at me seriously.
”Master… would you listen to a story from my past, degozaru?”
Notes:
• Hinagiku – A tengu woman as Ranka’s potential companion. She stays with Tatara’s group after travels. Joins household scenes only. Linked to Ranka by shared gluttony jokes. No direct tie to Tatara beyond cohabitation. Cheerful eater.
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name.
• Calmys – War God’s knight, Mayor’s guard chief, whip-master hiding as a swordswoman; sharp tongue, big-sister vibe to Tatara, grants him and Ethelena church protection.
• Ichika – The fox girl. Kunoichi.
• Amatsu – A master blacksmith and a female. Demonstrate forging skill to Tatara. The duel arises from Tatara’s request for guidance. Senior craftsman guiding Tatara. No kin known. Golden right eye and calm mastery define her.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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